Page 70 - 2022-08-01 RiDE
P. 70
BE GREAT AT TAKING A PILLION
p Being comfortable
with a pillion opens up
a whole new world
PILLION
QUESTIONS
ANSWERED
p Grab handles can
help pillion to steady
What should I advise my themselves
pillion to do? p You get on first,
Just go with the bike; lean as it leans and then the pillion with
use the grab handles rather than their arms both feet
around your waist. The less they move
around, the easier it is for you. It’s also
worth advising them to grip you with their
knees under braking and for you both to
work out a communication system for
stopping, etc if you don’t have an intercom.
you’re happy. The front preload will need
What should my tyre to be increased too to take account of the
pressures be? greater weight transfer under braking.
If you’re taking a pillion and holiday Don’t forget this will still apply if you have
clobber, you usually need to add between 4 semi-active suspension without an auto WIN A DAY’S
and 6psi but check your handbook. preload adjustment facility — the semi- PILLION-
active only does the damping.
Should I fiddle with my FRIENDLY
suspension? Any other adjustments?
Yes. Piling an extra ten stone (or Once you’ve fiddled with the preload, it’s TRAINING!
thereabouts) on the back of a bike means worth checking the headlight alignment
the rear preload definitely needs adjusting — it’s easy to end up with the dipped beam RiDE has teamed up with Rapid Training to
(assuming it was about right in the first pointing into oncoming drivers’ eyes. give you the chance to win a full day of
place). Check your manual to get a start one-to-one training with an expert riding
point but be prepared to tweak it until What’s the best way for a coach worth £395 — for free. And if you
pillion to get on the bike? choose to bring along your pillion of choice
You need to get on first and plonk both feet then so much the better. Rapid is one of
down to create a stable platform. If you Britain’s most respected advanced riding
can’t get both feet down, make sure the companies and every one of its coaches is
foot you do have on the ground is the side trained to Police Class 1 standard.
the pillion is getting on. Then tell your Enter the competition at
pillion to step onto a pillion footpeg and www.rapidtraining.co.
hold your shoulder to steady themselves as uk/Ride-pillion-
they swing their other leg over. Prepare for competition
a slight rock to the side they’re climbing on
P You’ll need to
but for light pillions, you’ll hardly notice.
increase preload to
cope with greater weight
70 SEPTEMBER 2022
